Need a test? Here’s where to go

But don’t expect to just show up at most of the sites, which require referrals.

By Erin McCarthy STAFF WRITER

Tents are set up on the Camden waterfront north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in anticipation of a drive-thru coronavirus testing site opening Wednesday. TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer

With coronavirus cases increasing and health officials warning that the worst is yet to come, more and more individuals are getting tested in the Philadelphia area.

Officials recently advised that not everyone needs to be tested. But if you have coronavirus symptoms, which can include a dry cough and fever, and are at high risk (age 65 and older, or immunocompromised), you may be able to get a test near your home.

In most cases, however, you can’t just show up to a testing site, and some hospitals may accept referrals only from doctors in their networks.

If you think you need to be tested, call your primary care doctor first, if you have one. You may be able to schedule a virtual consultation. A medical professional can best evaluate symptoms and determine whether to refer you for a test, perhaps at one of the following sites.

Philadelphia

In Center City, Jefferson Health offers mobile coronavirus testing at 10th and Sansom Streets, in a lot across from its hospital. Patients with a referral from a Jefferson doctor may walk or drive up to the site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In Northeast Philadelphia, Jefferson Health, Tower Health, and Einstein Healthcare Network have testing sites. Jefferson offers mobile testing for its patients in the Northeast; all Jefferson testing sites require referrals from Jefferson doctors. Tower Health, meanwhile, is assessing patients with coronavirus symptoms at 10050 Roosevelt Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Patients are encouraged to arrive with a referral to expedite the process and allow them to bypass the initial assessment. Einstein patients can be tested by appointment only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday at 7131 Frankford Ave. Patients must first call their Einstein-affiliated doctor, be evaluated, and get a referral.

In Northern Liberties and the surrounding area, patients can make a virtual appointment with American Family Care (AFC) by visiting its website. If it is determined that you meet the criteria, you will receive a doctor’s note to be tested at a one-day drivethrough site on Tuesday, March 31, in the parking lot of the former Cheltenham Mall, 2401 W. Cheltenham Ave., Wyncote.

In Olney, Einstein Healthcare Network patients may be tested by appointment only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 101 E. Olney Ave. Patients must first call their Einstein-affiliated doctor, be evaluated, and get a referral.

In South Philadelphia, next to Citizens Bank Park, health-care workers and people who are 50 and older and have symptoms can get drive-through testing from 2 to 6 p.m. daily.

In West Oak Lane, emergency responders and health-care workers, regardless of symptoms, can be tested in the Rite Aid parking lot at 7401 Ogontz Ave. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

In West Philadelphia, there’s a Penn Medicine drive-through testing site open daily at 41st and Market Streets for patients referred by Penn doctors. A sign at the site indicated that patients with coronavirus symptoms and no referral would be assessed on a “case-bycase basis.” The testing is free, even to those who are uninsured. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is also offering drive-through testing for children at the Karabots Pediatric Care Center at 48th and Market Streets. Patients have to be referred by a medical professional or a state or county health department.

Pennsylvania suburbs

In Abington, Jefferson Health has a coronavirus testing site at Abington-Jefferson Health at 1200 Old York Rd. Patients must be screened and referred to the site by an Abington-Jefferson Health physician.

In Ambler, coronavirus testing is available by appointment only at the Temple University Ambler Campus at 1440 E. Butler Pike. People can sign up on the Montgomery County website. Anyone with symptoms can be tested regardless of insurance, but all must make an appointment in advance. The site is open to all, not just Montgomery County residents.

In Doylestown, people referred by a member of the Doylestown Hospital medical staff can be tested at a drivethrough facility from 8 a.m. to noon on weekdays outside the hospital at 595 W. State St.

In Drexel Hill, Delaware County Memorial Hospital, 501 N. Lansdowne Ave., is doing drivethrough testing for Crozer-Keystone patients who are referred by a doctor and preregister.

In Gilbertsville, Tower Health is assessing patients and offering testing at 1050 E. Philadelphia Ave. from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It recommends patients be screened by a doctor and get a referral. People who do so can be tested more quickly, bypassing the assessment area.

In Malvern, Tower Health is assessing patients and offering testing at 215 Lancaster Ave. from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It recommends patients be screened by a doctor and get a referral. People who do so will be able to be tested more quickly, bypassing the assessment area.

Across Montgomery County, patients of Holy Redeemer Health System can be tested at various ambulatory care centers if they are referred by a Holy Redeemer-affiliated doctor. Call 800-818-4747 for more information. Holy Redeemer doctors and other medical staff can be screened outsider their hospital in Meadowbrook.

In Newtown Square, Main Line Health patients, who must have a referral, can get tested at a drive-through center outside the Main Line Health offices at 3855 West Chester Pike.

In Plymouth Meeting, Tower Health is assessing patients and offering testing at 580 W. Germantown Pike from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It recommends patients be screened by a doctor and get a referral. People who do so can be tested more quickly, bypassing the assessment area.

In Radnor, Penn Medicine is offering drive-through testing. At the Penn site, which is across from its office at 250 King of Prussia Rd., patients referred by a Penn doctor can be tested. Like other Penn sites, testing is free, even for the uninsured.

In Ridley Park, coronavirus testing will soon be available at Taylor Hospital, 175 E. Chester Pike, for Crozer-Keystone patients who are referred by a doctor and preregister.

In Springfield, coronavirus testing will soon be available at Springfield Hospital, 190 W. Sproul Rd., for Crozer-Keystone patients who are referred by a doctor and preregister.

In Upland, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Blvd., is doing drive-through testing for Crozer-Keystone patients who are referred by a doctor and preregister.

In Warminster, Tower Health is assessing patients and offering testing at 930 W. Street Rd. from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It recommends patients be screened by a doctor and get a referral. People who do so can be tested more quickly, bypassing the assessment area.

In Wayne, children and adults under age 27 can be tested at a PM Pediatrics Urgent Care driveup testing site at 101 E. Swedesford Rd., next to Gateway Shopping Center. They ask that patients call, or schedule a virtual consultation online, and get a referral from a PM Pediatrics doctor before visiting.

In Wyncote and the surrounding area, patients can make a virtual appointment with American Family Care (AFC) by visiting its website. If it is determined that you meet the criteria, you will receive a doctor’s note to be tested at a one-day drive-through site on Tuesday, March 31, in the parking lot of the former Cheltenham Mall, 2401 W. Cheltenham Ave., Wyncote.

South Jersey

In Cherry Hill, mobile coronavirus testing is being offered at Jefferson Health and Cooper Health locations. Jefferson patients with a doctor’s referral can walk or drive to be tested from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital, 2201 Chapel Ave. W. Cooper Health patients can be tested at the ambulatory care center at 1210 Brace Rd. Both Jefferson and Cooper patients must have a doctor’s referral. Cooper patients must also preregister for an appointment.

In Stratford and Turnersville , Jefferson Health patients who have a referral from their doctor may be able to walk or drive up to testing sites at Jefferson sites in those areas.

In Westampton, Burlington County residents with coronavirus symptoms can get drivethrough testing by appointment only from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the county’s Emergency Services Training Center at 53 Academy Dr. Residents do not need to go through a doctor to be tested, but they must call 609-726-7097 to be screened and make an appointment. Testing is free, regardless of whether you have insurance. Future screening dates will be determined by testing kit availability.

A site at Camden County College in Blackwood was still awaiting testing kits and had not yet opened as of Monday.

Payment

Large health insurance companies and Medicare and Medicaid have said they will cover the cost of testing. Many states have mandated coverage with no co-pays or deductibles.

In Pennsylvania, residents with questions or concerns can call the Greater Philadelphia Coronavirus Helpline at 1-800-722-7112.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said residents can call 211 for questions and concerns about the coronavirus. He said residents can also still call the original COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-962-1253 or 1-800-222-1222. They can also text NJCOVID to 898-211 to receive updates on their phones. emccarthy@inquirer.com erinK_mccarthy